Securing customer data a priority for retailers

By C&I Week

Australian retailers need to address security issues within retail stores to reduce risks and improve the quality of the retail experience for customers, according to a panel of industry experts.

The panel which met in Sydney on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, was moderated by Frost & Sullivan’s Australia and New Zealand managing director, Mark Dougan. Participants included, Mark McGeachen, CEO of AdvanceRetail Technology; David Higgins, ANZ regional director, WatchGuard Technologies; and Brad Drysdale, APAC chief technology officer, MuleSoft.

In store challenges

The panel highlighted security issues within retail stores that need to be addressed to reduce risks and improve the quality of the retail experience for customers.

Mark McGeachen, CEO of AdvanceRetail Technology, said: “Online and in store security is a massive issue for retailers as about 90 per cent of transactions involve credit or debit cards. This means there is a lot of payment and personal customer data that is being collected and stored, and retailers need to be sure this data remains secure.

“The issue becomes a more complex one when that data is handed over to third-party operators such as companies running loyalty schemes. Some of these work with multiple retailers and are handling vast quantities of personal data. It is difficult for a particular retailer to ensure that their customer’s data remains secure,” he said.

David Higgins, ANZ regional director of WatchGuard Technologies, pointed to instances where store point of sale terminals had been targeted by criminals in attempts to skim credit card and personal details.